Adoption Costs in Texas

Child adoption costs are one of the major considerations potential adoptive parents have when they consider adopting a child in Texas.

There are a lot of preparations you’d have to go through if you are planning to adopt a child in Texas. You should definitely consider the emotional aspects of the adoption, as well as the financial aspects.

Adoption can take a long time, and you will have to go through a complicated process. You should know how much you should expect in terms of child adoption costs before you embark on your adoption process. Not knowing what to expect will likely lead to frustration during the process.

Requirements For Child Adoption

One of the things that make up the most of your child adoption costs in Texas is complying with the requirements. Before you come up with the requirements, you first need to figure out whether or not you are eligible to adopt a child.

You have to be at least 21 years old before you can adopt a child. The court will also examine your financial status, so it is important to have stable finances and good background. This will show that you will be able to provide the needs of your adoptive child as well as a safe environment.

You will have to provide references to verify your income, lifestyle, and habits. You will also have to subject yourself to a criminal background check. You have to make sure that you do not have any history of abuse, neglect or harm to children, as well as family violence.

The Department of Family and Protective Services will also check if you have family members who have been subject to DFPS investigation in the past. Officers from the DFPS will also check and view your home to conduct a home study.

DFPS Training

There will also be training from DFPS that you will have to attend before you will be allowed to apply to be an adoptive parent. The training will educate you about the harms that will happen to children who are abused or neglected by parents. After this training conducted by the DFPS, you will be able to clearly determine whether being a foster parent or an adoptive parent is more appropriate for you.

This is also the point where families can back out if they realize that adoption is not the best option for them. The responsibility that comes with adoption is undeniably huge, and it becomes more apparent after the training. Potential families are also likely to realize the actual child adoption costs during these training.

Actual Child Adoption Costs in Texas

The child adoption costs in Texas is something that every family which is planning to adopt really have to prepare for. If you are considering adoption, you will really have to plan about how you can efficiently pay the various child adoption costs.

You are at an advantage if you already have a clear idea of how much you should expect to shell out for your child adoption costs. This way, you won’t be caught off guard and you won’t be disheartened in the middle of the adoption process.

Adopting an Older Child

Adopting an older child will be least expensive. A private adoption agency or the DFPS itself can help you with the adoption. If you want to adopt an older child, you’re bound to spend a few hundred dollars if you were to do it through a private adoption agency.

Most of your expenses will be from the home study and background checks. If you hire an attorney to help you with the process, it can certainly make the adoption process smoother, but it can cost you a little bit more in terms of child adoption costs.

DFPS also provide assistance to those who are looking to adopt an older child. In such cases, DFPS can offer up to $1500 assistance for your child adoption costs.

There is also monthly support available from the state once the adoption is complete. There are conditions associated with this DFPS support, however, such as the child being no older than 6 years old.

Adopting An Infant

Adopting an infant domestically can be more expensive compared to adopting an older child. Such adoptions are usually done privately, with the assistance of an attorney and an agency who will find a mother who wants to make her child available for adoption.

The child adoption costs for this type of adoption can reach up to $30,000 if you find a mother privately. If you go through with an adoption through an agency, the child adoption costs can reach up to $40,000. The money you spend will still go to home studies, application fees, background checks.

If you are adopting a child from a mother who has not given birth yet, you will have to pay the medical bills until the child is born. You will also have to pay the employees of the agency who will facilitate the adoption, as well as the counselors who will help you and the biological mother before and after the adoption, is finalized.

International Infant Adoptions

An international infant adoption is also an option that you can pursue. In terms of child adoption costs, an international adoption can cost at least $50,000.

Costs can vary, depending on the country of origin of your potential child. There could be delays with the international adoption process which can cause the child adoption costs to increase. There will also be differences between the US and the child’s country of origin, which can cause your expenses to be even higher. There will also be travel fees that you have to consider.

Whatever your preferences may be regarding child adoption, you will have to prepare financially for it. Having ideas in advance on how much you’d have to spend for the adoption fees will help you welcome your adopted child more efficiently.

Mr. Hutton is a Divorce and Custody Lawyer based out of Round Rock, TX. His background is with child psychology at Arizona State University where he received a B.S. in 2006, and he continued this by working with the Children’s Right’s Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law where he received his J.D. in 2009. Throughout his practice, he has been a strong proponent of utilizing modern technology to improve his practice and the representation of his clients. He currently is the technology chair of CAFA of Travis County and is committed to improving and modernizing the practice of law in Texas.